The National Association of Letter Carriers, which represents 300,000 current and retired workers, announced its endorsement of Joe Biden for President earlier this week. The endorsements come amid debate on the safety and security of mail-in voting.
Fredric Rolando, NALC president, wrote in the February edition of the Postal Record that the 2020 election is the most important election since 1968 when it comes to the future of the Postal Service.
“We don’t need to strike this time to move forward; we just need to vote and convince our family, friends and neighbors to do the same,” Rolando wrote.
Rolando wrote that President Donald Trump favors privatization, service cuts and damaging deregulation as well as stripping collective bargaining rights.
“NALC will need to decide whether to endorse on of the Democratic candidates running for president. Equally important, we will need to fight for a pro-letter carrier majority in the Senate to match the pro-letter carrier majority in the House of Representatives.
“In practical terms, this means re-electing the majority of Democrats and Republicans who support us in the House and fighting for a change of leadership in the Senate. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and our Republican committee leadership have utterly failed to take up desperately needed postal reform legislation over the past several Congresses.”
Rolando also criticized Senate Republicans for blocking a minimum wage hike and a law to make union organizing easier.
“We need major change in Washington and the 2020 general election is our best opportunity to make it happen,” he wrote.
Last week, when the NALC endorsed Biden, Rolando said:
“Vice President Biden is – was – and will continue to be – a fierce ally and defender of the United States Postal Services (USPS), letter carriers and our fellow postal brothers and sisters.”
It continued, “Together, Biden and Harris fully exhibit the experience, dedication, thoughtfulness and steady hands that will work to ensure that letter carriers and working families are put first.”
Rolando finished by saying:
“The Postal Service must not be allowed to fail. We must do everything we can to help the Postal Service thrive, not only for the men and women of the Postal Service but for the communities and businesses that we serve during this critical time.”
Postal Union endorsements in Presidential elections:
2020 (General): Joe Biden
2020 (Primary): Bernie Sanders
2016: Hillary Clinton
2012: Barack Obama
2008: Barack Obama
2004: John Kerry
2000: Al Gore
1996: Cannot find information
1992: Bill Clinton
1988: Michael Dukakis
1984: Walter Mondale
